Ashley McBryde battled nerves to pay tribute to Kris Kristofferson at the 2024 CMA Awards.

The singer’s acoustic performance was unteased and barely announced. She stood alone and sang “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” a No. 1 song for Sammi Smith in 1970.

Kristofferson famously wrote the song – it is one of his most famous lyrics.

Kristofferson died on September 28, 2024 at the age of 88, marking the end of one of the most impactful careers in country music history.

Speaking to Taste of Country ahead of the show, McBryde admitted she was nervous.

“Especially in a room full of people who do what you do for a living,” she said. “They’ll know if you did it wrong… or if you made a choice that made them say, ‘That was self-indulgent.'”

“Plus, I like to overthink things,” she jokes. “So I’m going to be inconsolably worried all the time.”

Read more: Watch Kris Kristofferson’s sad final performance

Even more emotional than McBryde’s performance were the frequent camera images of his widow Lisa Meyers. She held back tears, smiled and then celebrated the moment – ​​a huge tribute to the late country legend.

Kristofferson made major contributions to the country songbook, writing such classics as “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” His resume also includes success as a solo artist and actor. In the 1980s, he founded the supergroup The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.

Although he quietly retired in 2020, he still made occasional public appearances, including at the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion ceremony in 2023. His last performance may have been at Willie Nelson’s birthday party in May 2023 .

Read more: The country stars we lost in 2024

Kristofferson’s death had a profound impact on stars in the music and entertainment industries; celebrities like Reba McEntire, Barbra Streisand, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood all reflected on the loss.

Just under two months after his death, Kristofferson’s absence still seemed fresh to many in attendance at the CMA Awards, with several singers wiping away tears as they watched from their seats in the crowd.

The 2024 CMA Awards took place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and aired on ABC. Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Peyton Manning co-hosted the show.

*Note: The best way to watch the CMA Awards is on ABC with ToC on your phone.